NA members air mixed views on budget

KATHMANDU, JUNE 3: Members of the National Assembly (NA) have insisted on an effective implementation of the budget for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25). Airing their views during the general deliberations on the estimations of the government’s income and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year today, Kamala Panta said the implementation of the budget is challenging when it is warranted to revive the economy finding ways to address the economic crisis.

Questioning over the exclusion of the matters about observing the year 2024 as a tourism year, the lawmaker said she wanted to be clear whether the government moved back from its commitments regarding the celebrations of the tourism year. Maya Prasad Sharma said the budget suggests a realistic approach. “The policies, programmes, and the budget speech for the upcoming fiscal year are capable of building a vibrant atmosphere,” hoping for effective implementation.

Sharada Devi Bhatta said the budget to some extent is balanced and suggests vibrancy. “Budget should be civic-centered,” she said, welcoming the new budget. Jayantidevi Rai said the budget is principally seen as highly positive, but the implementation side is challenging. Announcements to promote investment in agriculture and domestic production are encouraging, she said. Budget ambitious, challenges in implementation Upper house member Puja Chaudhary termed the budget an ambitious one. “The budget is much more ambitious,” she said drawing the government to increase employees’ payroll as well bearing in mind the increasing price rise.

However, Tul Prasad Bishwakarma said the budget this time has been able to raise hope among the people more than the previous one. Though the government’s announcement to observe the upcoming decade as the decade for investment in the agricultural sector, the budget size for the agricultural sector in the next fiscal year reduced, he said. He was of the opinion that the budget should gradually minimize the size of foreign debt.

Anjan Shakya said the budget is overall balanced and realistic. Questioning about potential sources for managing capital for the private sector, she said banks and financial institutions are unable to expand loan facilities for the private sector due to various policy-level issues. Nar Bahadur Bist called for implementing the commitments to promoting cannabis farming for medicinal use with the help of a law. Padam Bahadur Pariyar said that overall the budget has addressed all sectors while Sonam Geljen Sherpa and Gomadevi Timilsina said though the budget is people-centered, challenges for its implementation loom large.

RSS